Volta a Catalunya 2022: Almeida wins in Boí Taüll, Quintana new leader

image: Cor VosJoão Almeida wins the Queen Stage on the Volta a Catalunya in Boí Taüll ahead of Nairo Quintana and Sergio Higuita. Quintana is the new GC leader, although on the same time as the stage winner. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 4th stage 2022 Volta a Catalunya

1. João Almeida (por)
2. Nairo Quintana (col) s.t.
3. Sergio Higuita (col) s.t.
4. Wout Poels (nld) + 0.07
5. Tobias Halland Johannessen (nor) + 0.13
6. Juan Ayuso (spa) s.t.
7. Richard Carapaz (ecu) s.t.
8. Jai Hindley (Aud) s.t.
9. Carlos Rodriguez (spa) s.t.
10. Guillaume Martin (fra) s.t.

12. Ben O’Connor (aus) + 0.23

General Classification
1. Nairo Quintana (col)
2. João Almeida (por) s.t.
3. Sergio Higuita (col) + 0.06
4. Ben O’Connor (aus) + 0.16
5. Juan Ayuso (spa) + 0.17
6. Wout Poels (nld) s.t.
7. Tobias Halland Johannessen (nor) + 0.23
8. Guillaume Martin (fra) s.t.
9. Richard Carapaz (ecu) + 0.26
10. Torstein Træen (nor) + 0.34

Race report
A big fight for the breakaway is raging on the first climb until Marc Soler, Jesús Herrada, Juan Pedro López and Bruno Armirail manage to escape the clutches of the peloton just before the summit. Hugh Carthy tracks them down, while Mark Donovan and Mikel Bizkarra also make it across.

The seven put 3 minutes into the peloton, but the gap falls below 1 minute before the finish climb. Armirail and Donovan decide to head out together.

Leader Ben O’Connor takes the remaining bonus second in the intermediate sprint just before the finish climb, while Armirail goes solo when the road starts to ascend towards the line.

George Bennett attacks from the peloton to go after the Frenchman. He joins him 9 kilometres before the top.

The remnants of the peloton track down the attackers before Carapaz gives it a go with 3.1 kilometres remaining. Higuita rejoins the Olympic Champion before Almeida closes the gap with some 10 riders in his wheel.

Almeida, Higuita, Carapaz and Quintana push on together to distance Ben O’Connor. When Quintana kicks again only Higuita follows his move, although Almeida comes clawing back.

The race comes down to a three-up sprint in Boí Taüll. Almeida dashes for the line ahead of the two Colombians. Quintana crosses the line in second, which is enough to take the leader’s jersey thanks to better stage placings than Almeida.

Another interesting read: route 4th stage 2022 Volta a Catalunya.